AFS Corporate Member McWane Ductile has completed a new section casting and annealing operations building at its Coshocton, Ohio, facility. 

Aimed at meeting the increasing demand for ductile iron utility poles, the concept and scope of the project began over two years ago.

We are very excited about this expansion and the capability it will provide,” said Tom Crawford, McWane Ductile—Ohio vice president and general manager. “I am proud of the confidence the McWane family has demonstrated in our plant, our poles business and our community by investing in this $50 million capital improvement project. This endeavor will allow us to provide long-lasting, durable and resilient poles for reliable transmission and distribution of electricity across the U.S.”

Construction of the state-of-the-art building marks a significant milestone for McWane Ductile’s pole operations, with versatility being a key feature of the structure. It is designed to primarily produce ductile iron pole sections while maintaining the flexibility to swiftly convert to pipe manufacturing when required, ensuring operational efficiency and responsiveness to market demands. The project brought together top industry experts to ensure the venture’s success, including Birmingham, Alabama-based EC&S to install the casting machines and Kraft Werks of Medina, Ohio, which handled construction of the annealing oven.

McWane Ductile hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 15 to celebrate the official launch of the new building. Numerous community officials, as well as employees and their families attended the event and were given a look inside the new facility.